Talk me out of it :)
Discussion
Is it an itch, or something I really need that’s the question. I’ve got some big trips coming up this year both motorsport and car related and far flung family holidays and I’m thinking of buying a new camera. The last time I had a proper camera was a Nikon d70 then a d700 and a bunch of glass. All 10 years or more ago. I also had a lumix dxc1 iirc as a travel cam… but in the last several years the iPhone has done everything. I’ve recently been googling which is dangerous! To the point I’ve just sold all the old stuff to mpb apart from a sigma 70-200 fx lens which at the price I thought wasn’t worth selling.
Im looking into a Nikon zf with 40mm kit lens, and a ftz to use the sigma. I think I’ll use it for trips and car events but I’m worried I won’t be arsed to keep it with me… which is exactly what happened with the last dslr. I upgraded my phone to the latest 15 pro max to see if that would be ‘enough’…. It’s a maybe, it’s still a phone and I just want those elevated shots you get with a dslr.
Let me know your thoughts, what you guys do for holidays and travel and whether you’ve jumped back in and it worked or didn’t!
I’m going to try a zf next Saturday at Jessops… could be dangerous!
The only way we'd talk you out of it it is to persuade you to buy something more expensive instead... so this forum will be no help at all 
My choice is a little easier; without a mobile telephone competent enough to take usable photos, if I want best results I take the D500 with appropriate lenses/flash.
It's strange that people can want the best photographic results, but then look at a camera and think - 'ooh it's a bit heavy, I can't carry that'... when they are (usually) perfectly able-bodied!
The ZF looks like a lovely piece of machinery; I think you should buy it even if you don't use it
My choice is a little easier; without a mobile telephone competent enough to take usable photos, if I want best results I take the D500 with appropriate lenses/flash.
It's strange that people can want the best photographic results, but then look at a camera and think - 'ooh it's a bit heavy, I can't carry that'... when they are (usually) perfectly able-bodied!
The ZF looks like a lovely piece of machinery; I think you should buy it even if you don't use it
Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 4th February 10:23
Maybe think laterally? The camera plus a 40mm lens is not big. So lower the resistance to taking it with you.
What's the smallest bag you're comfortable carrying? Do you already carry a backpack regularly or not at all? Maybe a Billingham as an everyday carry? Or a small sling with just the camera and lens?
I get a Fuji XT body, three lenses and accessories in a Thule sling bag 28x17x15cms. It's ready packed so whenever I head out, I just grab that bag. If I'm going on a longer trip/need more clothes etc, the sling fits inside both my Dakine heli pack and my bigger Ortovox pack which also has rear entry. So no need to even think about "should I take the camera".
For times when I only want a single lens, I have a smallish Crumpler sling.
What's the smallest bag you're comfortable carrying? Do you already carry a backpack regularly or not at all? Maybe a Billingham as an everyday carry? Or a small sling with just the camera and lens?
I get a Fuji XT body, three lenses and accessories in a Thule sling bag 28x17x15cms. It's ready packed so whenever I head out, I just grab that bag. If I'm going on a longer trip/need more clothes etc, the sling fits inside both my Dakine heli pack and my bigger Ortovox pack which also has rear entry. So no need to even think about "should I take the camera".
For times when I only want a single lens, I have a smallish Crumpler sling.
I've got a Panasonic GH2 which I keep as a back-up, a G9 that I use on shoots. I have three lenses, taking me from 14mm (28) to 300 (600). For travel where I want a light as possible but decent camera, I take my old 12mp Panasonic TZ25. It was a gift from my wife and was a new model, so it's about 12+ years old.
Talk you out of it….
To decide which camera you should buy I think it’s helpful to decide what you will do with the finished photos and what part of photography interests you
Are they for social media only?
Will you want to print them into photo album
Would you print them for the wall in 10X8 size only?
If the answer is yes to any of the above then just use your iPhone. , you wont get much more out of any slr ,sorry but it true, unless you are investing in serious lenses or wanting to crop heavily on the taken photo,phone cameras are average but the software is pretty incredible and beating them in a night shot is very hard!(whilst viewing on above situations
The other reason to buy a dedicated camera is that you enjoy the process of taking the photo, phone shots are soulless to take, despite the results
If you plan on printing large 3-6ft pictures for art on your wall then there is no substitute for a mega pixel SLR.
I asked the above to myself 4or 5 years ago, don’t touch my digital slr and only use film cameras after I found wanted to print large , hated lightroom /computer editing and loved the process of focusing turning dials, finding the core t exposure and winding the film on , but it’s def not for everyone as it def has no instant gratification to it
Hope I have successfully talked you out of it, best regards from your wife;-)
To decide which camera you should buy I think it’s helpful to decide what you will do with the finished photos and what part of photography interests you
Are they for social media only?
Will you want to print them into photo album
Would you print them for the wall in 10X8 size only?
If the answer is yes to any of the above then just use your iPhone. , you wont get much more out of any slr ,sorry but it true, unless you are investing in serious lenses or wanting to crop heavily on the taken photo,phone cameras are average but the software is pretty incredible and beating them in a night shot is very hard!(whilst viewing on above situations
The other reason to buy a dedicated camera is that you enjoy the process of taking the photo, phone shots are soulless to take, despite the results
If you plan on printing large 3-6ft pictures for art on your wall then there is no substitute for a mega pixel SLR.
I asked the above to myself 4or 5 years ago, don’t touch my digital slr and only use film cameras after I found wanted to print large , hated lightroom /computer editing and loved the process of focusing turning dials, finding the core t exposure and winding the film on , but it’s def not for everyone as it def has no instant gratification to it
Hope I have successfully talked you out of it, best regards from your wife;-)
Turtle Shed said:
You already know the answer. Stick with the phone.
Whilst you fancy spending money on something, I suspect that you know deep down that you won't use it.
The excellent cameras on today's phones are perfectly adequate for 95% of shots for 95% of people.
The thing is, 95% of the photos that 95% of people take are just snaps with their phones that, 25 years ago, they wouldn’t have wasted a frame of 35mm film on. Whilst you fancy spending money on something, I suspect that you know deep down that you won't use it.
The excellent cameras on today's phones are perfectly adequate for 95% of shots for 95% of people.
So, the remaining 5% of photos could be those that, 25 years ago, 5% of the people may well have thought were worth taking and paying for development and processing.
Just buy it and enjoy it. If you have the money, aren’t going to go in debt for years, why not? The money will be spent on something anyway…
I find that the mindset is different with a camera as opposed to a phone, when I’m out with just my phone I see some nice things and take a snap, but when I’m out with my camera I look for shots, composition, mood, experiment with lighting, the mindset is totally different and focused on the task.
I used to have a lot of bulky kit, but I moved to mirrorless about 6 years ago, I have 2 bodies (X-T2, X-E3) and 3 lenses (18,56,100-400) and when I do a big trip (I travel a lot with work) I take it all, but generally, I keep an X-E3 Fujifilm with me and it’s got the 18mm F2 on it and for most things, it’s all I need, the best camera you can buy is one that small enough to have with you most of the time and allows you to be creative
I used to have a lot of bulky kit, but I moved to mirrorless about 6 years ago, I have 2 bodies (X-T2, X-E3) and 3 lenses (18,56,100-400) and when I do a big trip (I travel a lot with work) I take it all, but generally, I keep an X-E3 Fujifilm with me and it’s got the 18mm F2 on it and for most things, it’s all I need, the best camera you can buy is one that small enough to have with you most of the time and allows you to be creative
Edited by 1781cc on Friday 9th February 06:40
I'd never talk anyone out of buying cameras they won't use.... it floods the second hand market with lightly used gear that I can pick up cheap 
I have a camera phone that works very well and have got some great shots from it. Creatively it's a lot more limited than any kind of decent proper camera.
I also have a Nikon Z5 with a selection of lenses.
And just bought a Hasselblad 500 cm. Bit of nostalgia, as I've regretted selling the last one I had about 18 years ago.
A Z5 or ZF are fine to carry about with a smaller lens. Just get a good strap. I use a peak design one and wear it sling style. If you've got a longer tele and a FTZ adaptor it can get a bit unwieldy.
I have a camera phone that works very well and have got some great shots from it. Creatively it's a lot more limited than any kind of decent proper camera.
I also have a Nikon Z5 with a selection of lenses.
And just bought a Hasselblad 500 cm. Bit of nostalgia, as I've regretted selling the last one I had about 18 years ago.
A Z5 or ZF are fine to carry about with a smaller lens. Just get a good strap. I use a peak design one and wear it sling style. If you've got a longer tele and a FTZ adaptor it can get a bit unwieldy.
Just wanted to drop back in here, that since buying it i've also added a FTZ2 adaptor for an older sigma lens and bought a 24-120 f4 which is incredible. Love using the camera and really got me back into it. Its nothing like an iphone in quality of output tbh. its amazing in comparison to my old DSLR's.
Heres a few. 10 points if you can tell me where.
Heres a few. 10 points if you can tell me where.
Simpo Two said:
mikeh501 said:
Love using the camera and really got me back into it. Its nothing like an iphone in quality of output tbh
It should be and hopefully better if you shot RAW and put some time into processing (assuming you posted JPG straight from camera)Agreed, I bought a 15 pro max before the Zf and whilst it’s not bad, it’s light years away from the Zf. I’ve had dslrs before so I was already pretty well versed in usage; although never found the need for full manual as yet. A and S are where it spends its time and with the amazing iso performance it’s really not an issue. I’ll be getting the Z 28-400 lens I think before Goodwood.
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff